Penguin Brands Sport-Wash

06May

Penguin Brands Sport-Wash

It doesn’t take a long bike ride to leave your clothes smelling like a locker room. The moisture wicking fabrics used in cycling clothing does a great job at moving moisture away from the body, but they can’t move odor-causing bacteria out with it. The bacteria left on your clothing reproduces incredibly fast and the odor it creates is not easily removed by normal laundry detergents. If you really want to keep your cycling clothing from stinking you need to wash it in Sports-Wash by Penguin Brands, Inc.

Sports-Wash is an unscented, biodegradable laundry detergent that reduces odors and prevents color fading. It is also residue-free and non-allergenic. In addition, it restores the factory-applied Durable Water Repellent (DRW) finish to clothing.

Sports-Wash is also notable for what it does not contain. It contains no bleach, fabric softeners, or scent. I have noticed a slight smell as the clothing is being washed, but it rinses right out and leaves no residue.

Penguin Brands, Inc. claims that Sports-Wash will remove blood and grass stains. Fortunately, I have not had the opportunity to test this claim, so I will have to take their word for it.

My dear wife is kind enough to hand-wash all of my cycling clothing (yes, I am a lucky man). She uses one capful of Sports-Wash per sink full of dirty clothing. Sports-Wash retails for $18 for a 42-ounce bottle. I buy Sports-Wash at a local Dick’s Sporting Goods store, but it is also available on Amazon.com. Sports-Wash is more expensive than normal laundry detergent, but your expensive cycling clothing will last a lot longer if you wash it in a quality product like this.

Hi There, I am Andy from the UK, sales & marketing manager of Paragon PE Ltd the company behind Halo Proactive Sportswash. As Adam mentions below, it is ‘cheap as chips’ compared to Penguin and I would say more effective. I wondered if you would like to try some and maybe blog about it as we have said for a long time you guys in the US would love this product. If you are interested then please drop me an email. Thanks`

I discovered Suave Men’s Body Wash works great during a camping and biking trip a few years ago, and have been using it ever since. It probably does nothing for the DRW finish, and maybe even strips it out, but I don’t recall it ever being listed on the tags of any of my bike jerseys or shorts. $1.88 for a 12-oz bottle at Walmart. (Pssst! Mrs. All Seasons Cyclist, if you have a front loading washer, toss his stinky bike clothes in by themselves on the wool setting. It’s kinder to the fabric and your hands.)

I will pass the note on to Mrs. All Seasons — I have no idea what type of washing machine we have at the house (a new one showed up on my American Express card a few years ago — and from the price I paid it must have been a good one).

Jean, I am still laughing from your comment about me doing dishes or cleaning the bathroom! Wait, were you serious? I don’t think I could ever meet my wife’s high standards when it comes to cleaning around the house (too bad she wasn’t that picky when she was looking for a husband).

I have been using Tide plus Febreze Sport liquid laundry detergent for a few years now with pretty good results. (http://www.tide.com/en-US/product/tide-plus-febreze-freshness-sport.jspx) It claims to be good on grass, dirt clay, and blood like the Penguin Sports Wash, but it is something I can find locally at any of the many Walmart stores in my area. It costs approx $12.00 plus tax for the 100 oz bottle, which claims to give 60 uses.

It is claimed this is specifically designed to be used with synthetic athletic clothing.

I do not know if it is supposed to be as “green” or “free” as the Penguin product, but what I do know of product performance is that it does a great job of getting rid of funk in synthetic athletic wear (my running and cycle clothing, daughter’s P.E. clothing), is gentle enough that I have never had any skin irritation (I have very sensitive skin and cannot use regular Tide), and even works well cleaning my Terramar merino wool baselayers. There is a gentle scent, but it is in no way bothersome (and I am sensitive to heavy scent and perfume as well). The fabrics have retained their color and body, with little to no degradation from washing.

Oh, and I utilize the “handwash” cycle of my washing machine with this. I have not used it to actually handwash any clothing. My washing machine does a great job not tearing up my cycle and running clothing, so I don’t need to spend the time handwashing.

Have been using Penguin Sport Wash for a couple years and really like the results. Using the hand wash cycle with cold water in a front loader. Then run a “drain and spin” cycle and hang to dry. Penguin Sport Wash is made by Atsko and you may find it at a lower price under the Atsko brand.

Until recently, I have been using Tide Plus Febreze Sport liquid detergent. I was reasonably happy with it and may use it again. It does have the advantage of being sold in my neighborhood supermarket. It did noticeably better than regular detergent at getting the funk out of tech fabrics. Unlike Richard, I somewhat disliked the scent (but found it preferable to “funk”). I just ordered a bottle of Win Sports Detergent from Amazon. I’ve only done one load of laundry with it, so the jury is still out. So far, I detect less scent than the Tide product (both funk and perfume), but I’m not sure if that makes it worth the hassle of ordering. I live near a Dick’s Sporting Goods store, so I may try the Penguin wash next.

One place you always seem to leave out for being able to purchase such items as the one you’re talking about here is REI Sporting Outdoor/Sporting Goods Store. It runs about the same price you quoted for said locations. And for the other ideas that’s just plain stupidity. That’s just wanting to get sick right there.

I don’t mention REI too much because their closest store is nearly 2 hours away from my house, but all the other major stores are only a few minutes away. I am a member at REI, but I just don’t get there very often.

Just because it’s not close to you doesn’t mean leave it or of mention. Because they at times have better process than Amazon. And there are individuals that live very close to an REI, and knowing that REI carries such an item. Gives me more reason to go there and start planning of my trip supplies.

I never knew they had detergents specifically for sportswear – I get the same thing with running attire, particularly with close-fitting tops. I have just had a quick search on amazon and they sell it in the UK too so will be trying this out. Thanks for the tip!

OMG !! wonderful wife you got there.. all my jerseys and tops are just thrown into the machine and washed.. of course it loses it shape and all but it gives me a reason to buy new gears.. LOL .. Awesome review once again.